Summary The skipper of the tug FRASERKING, which was towing the barge D.H.T.No.3, became disoriented at night after the tug's radar broke down. The skipper called a shore station, reported his position and requested guidance. Several vessels and aircraft proceeded to assist, however, the search was prolonged because the tug and barge were some 23 miles from the reported position. Although a helicopter attempted to direct the tug, in an area for which the tug had no nautical charts, the barge went aground. Next morning the barge refloated and the tow was resumed. The barge's shell plating was damaged by the grounding and it took on water and sank. Ce rapport est galement disponible en franais. On 20 October, 1997 at approximately 1500(1) the tug FRASERKING with the barge D.H.T. No. 3 in tow departed Port Hardy, B.C. en route to Shearwater, B.C. The barge was loaded with several pieces of machinery on deck (trailer, gravel truck, backhoe, forklift) giving it a freeboard of approximately 1.8 m. On departure, the weather was reported as moderate wind and a choppy sea. The visibility was reduced by rain. The FRASERKING was equipped with the following navigational equipment: one radar, one magnetic compass, a portable GPS receiver and a VHF radio. The tug and tow proceeded through Gordon Channel and South Passage towards Fitz Hugh Sound. The skipper navigated using radar and local knowledge. At approximately 2400 he identified Dugout Rock Light (5122'01.5N, 12748'23.5W) and estimated that the tug was approximately three miles west of the light. Until this time he had navigated along the coast without using the compass or the GPS receiver. After passing the Dugout Rock light the weather and visibility deteriorated further. The skipper observed that the radar screen was showing 'fuzzy' patches resembling rain clutter which concealed the coastline. To navigate the tug, he began using the magnetic compass for the first time since the tug had left Port Hardy. He also decided to unpack and make use of a recently bought hand-held GPS receiver. Steering by magnetic compass the skipper continued towards Fitz Hugh Sound while at the same time trying to adjust the radar and make use of the GPS. He became unsure of his location after a strong magnet was found attached to the compass. Reportedly, the compass had been serviced at Port Hardy before departure. At approximately 1424 (21 October) the skipper called Comox MCTS and reported that the FRASERKING and tow was lost in fog and that the vessel's radar was disabled. He gave the coordinates 5128'N, 12748'W as he read them off the GPS display and asked for assistance into Fitz Hugh Sound. Three fishing vessels transiting the area began searching but were unable to locate the tug and barge in the vicinity of the radioed position. Having received the message that the searching vessels could not find him, the skipper suspected that the batteries in the GPS receiver were low and causing the displayed coordinates to be erroneous. Meanwhile, water was discovered in the radar scanner wiring. The water was identified as the cause of the radar malfunction and it made the radar unusable. At approximately 1627, in an attempt to improve the GPS performance, the skipper took it on top of the wheelhouse and obtained another readout. It showed the coordinates 5146.5'N, 12811.3'W which he immediately transmitted to Comox MCTS. This position lies in Kildidt Sound, west of Calvert Island and some 23 miles from the position he reported at 1424. At 1725 a Search and Rescue helicopter, tasked by RCC Victoria, located the tug and tow in Kildidt Sound, about 2.5 miles west of the position given by its skipper at 1627. As the skipper did not have a chart covering Kildidt Sound and adjacent waters, the SAR helicopter dropped some aeronautical charts to the tug. Subsequently, the helicopter attempted to direct the tug towards some sheltered waters, however, as the helicopter was low on fuel it left the scene shortly thereafter. It was getting dark, the weather and the visibility were deteriorating. The skipper of the FRASERKING decided to remain with the barge, steaming slowly in Kildidt Sound until daybreak. At approximately 2115 the barge hung up on a submerged rock and the abruptly increased tension on the towline caused the winch brake to give way. The whole towline ran off the drum. The barge ran aground while the tide was ebbing. Low water was predicted to be at approximately 2310. The skipper of the FRASERKING left the barge aground and sought shelter for the night. He did not ascertain the barge's position. A fishing vessel which had been alerted by MCTS, approached the scene and escorted the FRASERKING to Pruth Bay. At approximately 0252, on 22 October, both vessels arrived off Experiment Point where the FRASERKING anchored. On the morning of 22 October, at approximately 1000 the FRASERKING left the anchorage and returned to Kildidt Sound. At 1230 the skipper located the barge just south of Kidney Island. It was afloat and listed slightly to starboard. Two persons who arrived by speed boat, i.e. the owner of the equipment being transported by the barge and another individual, were already on the barge trying to secure the vehicles. The FRASERKING re-attached the towline and began towing the barge towards Nalau Passage. While underway, the skipper observed that the barge had started to sink by the stern. He kept towing, trying to reach some shallow water, however, at approximately 1700 the barge sank at the entrance to Nalau Passage where the depth of water is approximately 140 feet (42.6 m). After scanning the area, the tug proceeded to Shearwater. The skipper, who was also the owner of the tug and the barge, has been sailing on various tugs on the B.C. coast for approximately 22 years. He did not have a marine certificate of competency and, as he was operating a tug under 10 GRT, was not required to. He navigated the FRASER KING using his local knowledge of the area which he had transited many times before.